• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.184-189
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• 2007

In order to investigate the enhancement effects of low dose radiation on biological activation, this study applied low dose X-ray to the whole body of male rats to find out whether hormesis is induced in male germ cells. Total 36 Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats as experimental animal were subdivided into 6 groups(in 6 rats per group) such as control, 10 mGy, 20 mGy, 50 mGy, 100 mGy and 200 mGy radiation group All the groups showed slightly increasing number of sperms per 0.1g semen ($14.216{\times}10^6,\;13.901{\times}10^6,\;14.153{\times}10^6,\;13.831{\times}10^6,\;14.137{\times}10^6,\;14.677{\times}10^6$ respectively), and the motility of sperms amounted to 50.9%, 49.5%, 55.1%, 54.3%, 48.0% and 52.2% respectively. Particularly, compared to the control, the other 5 groups showed higher male hormone level, and the microscopic observations of testicle tissues showed no vacuolization in seminiferous tubules and testis cells. In the results of this experiment, no harmful effect was observed on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for which the dose of radiation was controlled as regulated legally by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. However, as these results were obtained from a limited number of animals, we cannot maintain that the same effect will be observed in the human body. Therefore, there should be further research on the effect on other animals and ultimately on the human body.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2011

Human in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program is a general procedure for infertile couples since first successful delivery on 1978 in UK and Korean first on 1985. Recently in Korea, more than 42,000 cases per year of IVF-ET were performed and showed good pregnancy rates compared worldwide data. The human IVF-ET procedure use many consumables, such as ovum pick-up (OPU) needles, centrifuge tubes, culture dish, ICSI pipette, culture media and ET catheters. Major of these materials are supported by the global companies. Thus, Korean IVF-ET program might be placed unstable situation by global economical risks. These uncertain problems could be overcome by the domestic production of IVF-ET materials and consumables. Two times questionnaires for Korean clinicians and researchers about the domestic production were performed and analyzed. Many of them requested domestic OPU needles, ET catheters, culture media and ICSI pipettes under good quality control and quality assurance system. This trial may be contributed to industrialization and to global competence of Korean IVF-ET program. The results of this survey can be provide a fundamental base for development and production of domestic materials and consumables for human IVF-ET program.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.31-45
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• 2014

Objective : This study was intended to provide information pertaining to reasonable consumption of medical services based on comparative analysis of the characteristics of musculoskeletal diseases(MSDs) among outpatients of Korean medical institutes, and furthermore help lay groundwork for mapping out effective Korean medical policies. Method : Based on the data of 3,889 outpatients of Korean medical institutions which were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 2011 Report on usage of Korean medicine, the analysis was carried out by using the SAS 9.2. Results : 68.2% of subjects were found to use Korean medicine(KM) for the treatment of MSDs. Patients with MSDs were older than those with nonmusculoskeletal diseases(NMSDs). And married state, education, employed state and incomes are effected on MSDs and NMSDs. Subjective health status, number of outpatient treatments, medical cost, medical treatment satisfaction, and habitue status are depend on MSDs or NMSDs. Acupuncture and physical therapy is Major treatments of subjects investigated to have the highest treatment effect. It was found that they had high degree of satisfaction with Korean medicinal outpatient treatments, and those with MSDs were found to have significantly greater satisfaction than those with NMSDs. Conclusion : Although aforesaid results suggest significant satisfaction with KM and high treatment effects for MSDs. Accordingly it is considered necessary to develop various services related to KM for treatment of MSDs and to plan for cost down of KM. Moreover, in-depth research into NMSDs is required for utilization growth of KM.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.250-265
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• 2014

The purpose of the phenomenological study was to explore the sense of pressure shown from the family adjustment experience according to mothers-in-law's perception and to enrich our understanding about multicultural families. In order to accomplish the purpose of research, 5 mothers-in-law with married immigrant women participated. Data were collected through in-depth interview. In addition, the data were analyzed by a Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis. The findings showed that the meaning of family adjustment experience in mothers-in-law with married immigrant women were identified as 31 themes and 7 categories. The 7 categories consisted of "The sense of pressure of son's marriage", "The sense of pressure of an unsatisfactory daughter-in-law", "The sense of pressure of unfair treatment by a daughter-in-law", "The sense of pressure of living with concerned son and his wife", "The sense of pressure of having a foreign daughter-in-law", "The sense of pressure of dependnet daughter-in-law's parents", "The sense of pressure of the future". Based on the findings, we discussed the meaning of family adjustment experience in mothers-in-law with married immigrant women. And lastly, this results made suggestions for the social welfare policies and practices for them and their families.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.117-131
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• 2014

This study aims to explore the reexperience of trauma caused by experience of discrimination and stigma from South Korean. For this purpose of this study, focus group interview methods are used. The participants are five women who escaped from North Korea and they were from 20s to 50s. From the outcomes of this study, I find out that they had experienced to put in prison, to let arrest to let human traffic, and sexual or physical assault. Now they have PTSD(Post Trauma Stress Symptom) of nightmare related with past trauma, avoidance of interpersonal relationships and similar situations, and retrospection and memorization of negative experiences. In that situation, they also have experienced discrimination caused by lack of understanding of their suffering in South Korea. And almost of them suffer from poor situation economically and physically. Participants regret their entry to South Korea and perceive that their hope has gone. And they have anger of Korean's discrimination and stigma and they feel suicide impulse after experiencing very difficult situation. These negative experiences affect their PTSD and make reemergence of trauma experience. In conclusion, the outcomes of this study are discussed and I proposed the practical suggestions which have affected decreasing the PTSD.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.29-46
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• 2013

A survey conducted on 1,103 patients or caretakers visited Korean medical clinics and hospitals between August 25, 2011 to September 30, 2011 by the Ministry of Health and Welfares and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs was analyzed and obtained following results: 1. For sociodemographic distribution, female(813) outnumbered male(290) patients with majority of patients ranging from 30s to 60s. Married patients(793) outnumbered unwed(150) patients and 65.0% with higher than high school education. Statistical significance was seen in gender, age, marital status, and education level but no significant difference for status of employment, income level, and types of insurance between the clinics and hospitals. (P<0.05). 45.1% had less than \2,000,000 in monthly salary and most of coverage was provided by either regional or work insurance. 2. 67.9% of the patients rated health conditions to be better than average and 32.1% listed as poor. People in good health showed tendency to visit Korean medical facilities. Musculo-skeletal conditions such as arthritis, ankle sprain, lumbago, muscular injury, and frozen shoulder were common conditions, followed by gastric disorders, common cold and herbal tonics. No significant difference was observed between the clinics and hospitals for above conditions, but significance was seen in atopic dermatitis, stroke, and sequela from traffic accidents (P<0.05). 3. Ten most common conditions addressed at Korean medical facilities were lumbago, arthritis, muscular injury, back sprain, gastric disorders, ankle sprain, common cold, herbal tonics, frozen shoulder and stroke. Major treatment modalities rendered were herbal medicine, herbal supplements, acupuncture and moxibustion, cupping, tuina, and Korean midical physical therapy. No significant difference existed between the clinics and hospitals. 4. All modalities showed at least 85% effectiveness. No statistical significant difference between the clinics and hospitals except for herbal decoction. (P=0.0452) 5. 88.3% of responses showed treatment satisfaction with significant difference between the clinics and hospitals (P=0.002). The occurrence of side effects was at 2%, mostly corning from treating digestive, skin, kidney disorders and neurological issues. No significant difference was observed between the clinics and hospitals. From the above results, the typical population visiting Korean medical facilities can be summarized as being middle aged female with relatively higher education and moderately low income. The health condition is generally good and the purpose of visit is to receive traditional treatments of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy. Treatment efficacy and satisfaction were high with no significant differences between the clinics and hospitals.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.167-175
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status and the factors associated with death preparation of in Community-Dwelling Elderlys. This study was secondary analysis using with 2014 National Survey on the Elderly in Korea. The number of respondents were 10,281. Data were analyzed with the x2 test, t-test and multiple logistic regression using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. 37.7% of respondents had done death preparation. The factors associated with death preparation were sex(CI=1.02-1.25), age(CI=1.90-2.28), living area(CI=1.21-1.45), education level(CI=1.16-1.42), spouse status(CI=1.50-3.22), economic level(CI=1.13-1.36), limit of activity(CI=1.11-1.40), life satisfaction(economic satisfaction(CI=1.17-1.35), children relationship satisfaction(CI=1.25-1.43), friends and neighborhood relationship satisfaction(CI=1.10-1.28)). Based on these results, it is necessary to develop programs for reinforcing elder's psychological death preparation for elders in community organization. To consider elder's characteristics like gender and living area.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2013

Purpose: In this study, we analyzed refractive power of school children in low income family. Methods: We have done a comparative analysis with 112 subjects of low-income of 17 elementary schools in the Yeongcheon area and low-income children less than -6 D of refractive errors from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Report 2010. Results: Spherical equivalent (SE) with low-income group of nation was -1.99 D for right eye and -1.81 D for left eye, while high income group of nation showed -1.26 D and -1.21 D for right eye and left eye respectively. The SE with low income group in Yeongcheon area was -1.85 D for right eye and -1.81 D for left eye. The SE with orphan was -2.75 D and -2.42 D. Single parent family was -2.10 D and -1.96 D, and two parent family was -1.75 D and -1.73. Conclusions: The lack of attention to children eye care may be one of cause for myopia, so the role of the parents and teacher is very important. However, limited role of parents to children due to low income, it is necessary to provide an institutional strategy and social interest to prevent children vision' in low income family.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.221-227
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• 2015

Purpose: Confronting the growing burden of dementia requires understanding the causes and predictors of dementia in order to develop preventive strategies. In Korea a large proportion (71%) of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, and the risk factors have not yet been elucidated. Dietary factors may be possible risk factors, however research on the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and dietary behaviors has been insufficient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between compliance with the "Dietary Guidelines for Elderly (The Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2011)" and Alzheimer's disease among Korean elderly. Methods: Elderly persons who visited a University hospital or a dementia center of Seoul and agreed to participate in the examinations were selected. Among 277 subjects, 89 Alzheimer patients were selected with diagnosis and 118 subjects were assigned to the control group. Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was based on Alzheimer's disease criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) and criteria of National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA). Information on the general characteristics, health related behaviors and compliance with the dietary guidelines for Korean elderly was collected by face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. Anthropometric variables were measured during the survey. Results: Total compliance score of dietary guidelines was significantly lower in the Alzheimer's disease group than in the control group (p = 0.0001). The odds ratio of Alzheimer's disease was significantly decreased in the group with the highest dietary guideline compliance score (OR = 0.47, 95 % CI = 0.18~1.09) compared to the group with the lowest compliance score. Conclusion: The results indicate that increasing compliance with the dietary guidelines could be an effective strategy to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease among Korean elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.146-152
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• 2016

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of professional soldiers' family healthiness on the organizational effectiveness of the military and test for any differences in the structural modeling path caused by the mediating effects of empowerment depending on whether they lived with their families or not. Data were collected with a self-administered survey distributed to 480 professional soldiers after the approval of the Ministry of National Defense. The data collected were then analyzed using descriptive statistics, structural equation modeling, and multi-group analysis. The analysis results show that the family healthiness of all of the professional soldiers had direct or indirect effects on their organizational effectiveness via empowerment and that family healthiness was a variable with a very large explanatory power for organizational effectiveness. Both family healthiness and empowerment had effects on the organizational effectiveness of the solders that were living with their families and those who lived separately from their families. The levels of family healthiness, empowerment, and organizational effectiveness were all high among the professional soldiers that were living with their families and all low among those who were not. Increasing the family healthiness and empowerment was found to enhance the organizational effectiveness in all of the models, and a higher organizational effectiveness would be expected from professional soldiers living with their families. These findings led to a proposal that various plans should be prepared to help professional soldiers live with their families and provide them with family welfare support.